The launch of London's congestion charging system next week is not the only wasteful cost that commercial vehicle operators have to consider in order to supply the capital's thousands of businesses.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) warns that time is running out, and from Monday there will only a be tight two and a half hour window when deliveries are unfettered by congestion charging or the London lorry ban.

In its publication 'Delivering in London', the FTA adds up the costs of delivering into the big smoke. These include £800 million for the costs of road works, accidents and illegal parking. Plus £88m for the cost of shrinking road space. And £30m for the London lorry ban. Another £50m for the lack of loading and unloading facilities. And £42m will be paid in parking fines. The congestion charge will add £160m to these existing costs, bringing the total for lorry operators up to £1.2 billion.

Sue Moody, the FTA's regional director for London, explained: 'The FTA believes that there are simple and sensible strategic solutions to most of the problems which hinder the delivery of goods and services in London, and place unfair costs on commercial vehicle operators. An exemption of commercial vehicles from the London congestion charge would be the first step.

'The fastest way to shut down a city is to prohibit commercial vehicles from serving it. Time is running out, fast.'